The Colin Powell School welcomed executives from Seaport Global and Blaylock Van, two leading firms in capital markets and investment banking, for an afternoon campus visit on October 15th. The guests attended Professor Paul Clifford’s Financial Management course, where they had the opportunity to observe classroom discussions and engage with students.
The visit included a lunch gathering with Powell School faculty, staff, and student ambassadors, followed by a campus tour highlighting the school’s programs and student community. Guests included Nyagaka Ongeri (President, Blaylock Van), Louis Decaro (Head of Investment Banking, Blaylock Van), Joni Nash Wade (Head of Corporate Affairs, Seaport Global), Krishna Thakkar (Investment Banking Analyst, Blaylock Van), and Oceane Payne (Municipal Finance Analyst, Blaylock Van).
Sarah Dyer, the Powell School’s Director of Corporate Partnerships, says “Visits from corporate leaders create a mutually valuable exchange. We have the opportunity to showcase our academic programs and talented students, while gaining firsthand insight into the skills and qualities employers most value in emerging professionals.”
Blaylock Van is the oldest continuously operated, African American-owned investment bank in the US. Seaport Global, which has had a small ownership interest in Blaylock Van, offers an intensive summer internship program. The visit reflects a growing engagement between the Colin Powell School and leaders in the financial sector, expanding opportunities for students interested in finance, investment, and public-private collaboration.
